Poultry semen collecting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for removing semen from poultry for artificial insemination of poultry. Poultry clamping means are provided and a suction probe includes a circulating fluid bath containing removed semen at a predetermined temperature.

United States Patent Randolph et a1.

Filed:

POULTRY SEMEN COLLECTING APPARATUS Inventors: Arthur J. Randolph, 4711Sonoma l-lwy.; Albertus G. Horsting, 6685 Sonoma l-lwy., both of SantaRosa, Calif. 95405 Aug. 2, 1973 Appl. No.: 385,060

US. Cl 128/276, 119/97 R, 128/103,

Int. Cl. A01k 37/00, A61m 1/00 Field of Search 128/276, 234, 303.1, 295,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Crittenden 128/234 Mitchum.....

Neely 119/l4.09 UX Coe 119/103 Mar. 25, 1975 2,557,252 6/1951 Bannisteret al. ll9/l4.09 UX 2,686,519 8/1954 Westerman 128/294 2,763,240 9/1956Duncan 119/14.09 3,421,504 l/1969 3,646,935 3/1972 Holbrook 128/2763,717,128 2/1973 Pearman 119/103 3,774,578 1l/1973 Randolph ct a1 119/97R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 567,121 12/1923 France 119/103 PrimaryExaminer-Aldrich F. Medbery Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gregg, Hendricson &Caplan [57] ABSTRACT Method and apparatus for removing semen frompoultry for artificial insemination of poultry. Poultry clamping meansare provided and a suction probe includes a circulating fluid bathcontaining removed semen at a predetermined temperature.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEU m2 5 5 sum 1 or g F/XTENTED 2 5 5saw 2 n5 2 FIG. 3

Or! w 1 POULTRY SEMEN COLLECTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Inthe mass growing and production of poultry it has become common toartificially inseminate the hens in order to insure production of eggs.In the following description the present invention is referenced toturkey insemination although no limitation is meant thereby. In theremoval of semen from tom turkeys it has previously been necessary forone worker to hold the turkey while another removes the semen. This isboth timeconsuming and often times difficult, particularly in view ofthe size of tom turkeys.

A further problem in the removal and storage of turkey semen, forexample, is the relative perishability thereof. In order that the semenshould be useful it is necessary to very carefully control thetemperature thereof when it is removed from the torn and conventionalapparatus does not include means for controlling the temperature ofsemen during and immediately following removal operations.

SUMMARY OF INVENTlON The present invention provides a bench upon whichan operator is adapted to sit with a turkey head clamped beneath oneleg. On the opposite side of the bench from the turkey head there isprovided leg clamping means in the form of a flexible line having anenlarged end adapted to be wrapped about the legs of a turkeyimmediately above the feet and connected to pivot means for tensioningthe line and locking it in such position so as to restrain the legs ofthe turkey.

The present invention additionally provides a suction probe for removingsemen from a torn turkey or the like andincluding a small flask having aliner into which semen is drawn and surrounded by a circulating liquidbath for carefully regulating the temperature of the liner and contents.The vacuum forsemen removal may be provided either by the operation ofasmall venturi from a pressure tank or from a foot-operated piston withappropriate valving.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES The present invention is illustrated as toparticular preferred embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawingswherein FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a milking bench andassociated apparatus in accordance with the present invention andschematically illustrating an operator in the process of semencollection;

FIG. 2 is.a simplified end view of the bench of FIG. 1 illustrating theposition of the operator and turkey thereon during the process of semencollection;

FIG. 3 is a sectional illustration of the collection flask of thepresent invention and illustrating connections of such flask to a vacuumsource and circulating liquid source; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an alternative manual vacuumgenerator as may be employed in the present invention. I

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The collection of semen by a singleoperator from a torn turkey, for example, requires the operator to haveboth hands'available for the collection operation. The operator employsone hand to stroke the turkey and the other hand to carry some type ofsemen collector. In view of the physical size of turkeys, for example,the foregoing operation generally can be carried out only by two or morepeople, however, it is provided herein that the torn turkey shall beheld in such a manner that a single operator may collect sementherefrom.

In accordance with the present invention, a torn turkey is placedcrosswise on bench in the lap of an operator with the head of the turkeybeneath one leg of the operator at a first side of the bench. Theoperator then wraps a flexible line about the legs of the turkey on theopposite of the bench with an enlarged end of the line in the form of aball or the like being employed so that tensioning of the line firmlyengages the line about the turkey legs and immobilizes same. Further inaccordance with the present invention, the flexible line is connected toa pivot and locking member whereby the operator need only wrap the lineabout the turkey legs and then move the pivot arm to tension the lineand lock it in that position. The operator is then able to proceed withboth hands for the collection of semen from the turkey immobilizedacross the operator's lap.

It is additionally provided in accordance with the present inventionthat semen shall be collected by suction applied either from a powersource or manually generated and leading into a temperature-controlledflask or the like adapted to be carried on one hand of the operator. Inthis manner the present invention provides the capability of a singleoperator collecting semen for the artificial insemination of poultry andprovides notonly a saving in manpower for this operation, butadditionally provides for the proper handling and storage of thecollected semen so that same is not damaged by temperature variations.

Considering now the structure of the present invention as illustrated inthe drawings, and referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is noted thatthere is provided a bench 11 including a narrow elongated seat 12mounted on a framework 13 that incorporates leg structure. Wheels 14 maybe mounted on the frame 13 so that the bench may be readily rolled likea wheelbarrow to desired locations for use. To this end a handle 16 mayalso be mounted on the frame 13.

In the illustrations of FIG. 1 there is shown in part an operator 21seated on the bench with one leg disposed on each side of the bench anda turkey 22 lying across the lap of the operator with the head of theturkey beneath the left leg of the operator, thus clamping the upperportion of the turkey. On the opposite side of the bench from the headof the turkey there is provided a flexible line 26 having an enlargementsuch as a small ball 27 secured to the upper end thereof. The lower endof the line 26 is secured to an arm 28 pivotally mounted near the centerthereof upon a bracket 29 secured to the frame 13. The opposite end ofthe arm 28 is pivotally connected to a second arm 31 extending through abracket 32 secured to the frame and having a locking plate 33 extendingtherethrough. This locking plate rides in the bracket 32 about theupright arm 31 so that the arm 31 may be readily raised in the bracketbut will not slide downwardly in the bracket because of the bindingaction of the locking plate 33. Release of the arm 31 fordownwardmovement in the bracket 32 is achieved by lifting the lower end of thelocking plate 33. This locking structure is conventional.

In fully securing the turkey 22 across the lap of the operator Zl thelatter grips the legs of the turkey with one hand and wraps the flexibleline 26 about the legs of the turkey immediately above the feet thereof.The operator then grasps the arms 31 as by a handle 34 at the top of therope and raises the arm to pivot the lower arm 28 and tension the line26. This then locks the line with the ball 27 at the end thereof aboutthe legs of the turkey to firmly anchor the turkey across the lap of theoperator. It will of course be appreciated that the turkey is originallyplaced in the lap of the operator by a worker who had grasped and liftedthe turkey to lower it in the lap of the operator. It will be seen thatthe foregoing operation may be readily accomplished by the seatedoperator, then, as the tom turkey appropriately located across his lapso that the operator 21 has both hands free for collection of semen fromthe torn turkey.

There is furthermore provided by the present invention meansforcollecting the semen from the turkey and in this respect reference ismade to FIG. 3. In FIG. 3 there is illustrated a flask 41 which may beformed as a small double walled cylinder 42 having the inner portionthereof open at the top to-receive a tube or liner There is provided afitting 44 communicating with the opening within the outer cylinder 42and about the inner cylinder 46 defining the'double wall flask. On oneside of the flask near the top there is provided a second fitting 47 sothat provision is made for circulating a liquid within the double wallsof the flask. In order to maintain the interior of the flask and anycontents thereof at a constant temperature there is provided herein thatthe flask shall be connected by the couplings or connectors 44 to 47 toa source 51 of heated liquid. This source may include a reservoir 52having a heater unit 53 therein with a pump 54 withdrawing liquid fromthe reservoir and forcing it through the connector 44 into the flask..The liquid then circulates within the outer cylinder 42 and about theinner cylinder 46 and flows out of the upper coupling 47 back to thereservoir. The liquid is maintained at a constant predeterminedtemperature in the reservoir.

The tube or liner 43 is adapted to slide into and out of the innercylinder 46 of the flask and this tube is provided at the top with astopper 56 having a hollow probe 57 extending therethrough into the topof the tube. There is also provided a small pipe or line 58 entendingthrough the stopper 56 for the purpose of applying a vacuum to theinterior of the tube 43. This vacuum may be generated in a variety ofways, however, bearing in mind that the present apparatus may well beemployed in the field, there is illustratedas a vacuum system a tank 61of air under pressure connected through a regulator 62 and valve 63 to aventuri 66. The line 56 connects to the throat of the venturi 66 so thatair passing through the venturi then lowers the pressure so to cause asuction in the line 56 and thus establish the vacuum within the tube 43in the flask. The valve 63 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 3 to beoperated by a foot pedal 71.

It is noted that the elements of the system described above inconnection with FIG. 3 are also illustrated in FIG. 1 where the footactuator 71 is shown to comprise apivotally mounted foot pedal connectedas by a chain 72 to an actuator of valve 63 to draw vacuum on the line56.

Referring again to FIG. 3 of the drawings it will be seen that a vacuumdrawn on the line 56 will draw a vacuum on the interior of the tube 43so that vacuum 4. is applied to the probe 57. The flask 41 is preferablyprovided with'a holder or the like in the form of a generallyhooked-shaped member 76 secured to the side of the flask opposite theside of which the coupling 47 is connected and having an opening orspread sufficient to fit over the palm of the hand of an operatorimmediately ahead of the thumb. In use, the operator places the hook orthe like 76 over the upper portion of the palm of his hand with theflask lying across the back of his hand somewhat as illustrated inFIG. 1. This then also frees the thumb and fingersof the hand of theoperator carrying the flask and he is able to direct the suction probe57 with his hand without employing the fingers thereof. An upright onthe frame carries the lines to the flask and probe for convenience ofthe operator.

For certain applications of thepresent invention it may be convenient toemploy an alternative manner of generating the suction required for theprobe of the present invention. In FIG. 4 there is illustrated a manualvacuum generator including a pressure cylinder 81 the pistons to theleft in FIG.-4 will force air out of the valve 91. At the opposite endof the cylinder there are provided another pairof check valves 93 and94. As the piston moves to the left in FIG. 4 to exhaust air from thevalve 91 it will unseat valve 94 and draw a vacuum through the outputline 96. Reverse movement of the piston to the right in FIG. 4 willexhaust air through the check valve 93 and draw a vacuum through theline 92 connected to the output line 96. This line 96 then leads to theflask and is connected thereto in the manner of line 56 of FIG. 3. Itwill be seen that with this system there is drawn a vacuum on the vacuumprobe 57 of the flask by pivoting the treadle or foot pedal 84 'back andforth. This then precludes the necessity of providing a tank of highpressure air.

There has been described above a simple method and apparatus forcollecting poultry semen for use in the artificial insemination ofpoultry. It will be appreciated that variations and modifications of thedescribed embodiments of this invention are possible and thus it is notintended to limit the invention to the precise terms of description ordetails of illustration.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for collection of poultry semen comprising:

means defining a narrow elongated bench having means to support anoperator seated astraddle same with a front end of said bench extendingforwardly between the legs of the operator and including a portion tosupport poultrythereon,

a means for restraining poultry comprising a flexable line with anenlarged first end disposed on a first side of said bench and adapted tobe wound about the legs of poultry disposed across the bench with thelegs of the poultry over a leg of an operator seated on the bench,

said restraining means further including an arm havof the arm tensionsthe line secured to the legs of 5 poultry to restrain the legs of thepoultry,

means mounted on said bench including a suction probe having a vacuumcontrollably drawn therethrough for collection of poultry semen, and

a flask connected to said probe for storage of semen therein.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further defined by a vacuum source mountedbeneath said bench and connected to said flask by a flexible hose forapplying a vacuum to said probe, and

a foot control for said vacuum source mounted on the first side of saidbench at the lower front end thereof for controlled application ofvacuum to said flask by the foot of an operator seated on said bench.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further defined by said flask comprising adouble walled cylinder having a removable liner connected to said probeand vacuum source, a source of liquid having heating means maintainingthe liquid at a predetermined pressure, and means including a pumpconnecting said source of liquid to the chamber between the double wallsof said flask for circulating such liquid therethrough to maintain aconstant temperature of said liner and contents. 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1 further defined by said pivot arm having a first end extendingupwardly from a second end connected to linkage engaging the second endof said flexible line for drawing the line downward with the first endof the line wrapped about the legs of poultry and secured thereto by theenlarged end with such line under tension.

1. Apparatus for collection of poultry semen comprising: means defininga narrow elongated bench having means to support an operator seatedastraddle same with a front end of said bench extending forwardlybetween the legs of the operator and including a portion to supportpoultry thereon, a means for restraining poultry comprising a flexableline with an enlarged first end disposed on a first side of said benchand adapted to be wound about the legs of poultry disposed across thebench with the legs of the poultry over a leg of an operator seated onthe bench, said restraining means further including an arm havinglocking means pivotally mounted on the first side of said bench withsaid line secured at the second end thereof to said pivot arm wherebypivoting of the arm tensions the line secured to the legs of poultry torestrain the legs of the poultry, means mounted on said bench includinga suction probe having a vacuum controllably drawn therethrough forcollection of poultry semen, and a flask connected to said probe forstorage of semen therein.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further defined bya vacuum source mounted beneath said bench and connected to said flaskby a flexible hose for applying a vacuum to said probe, and a footcontrol for said vacuum source mounted on the first side of said benchat the lower front end thereof for controlled application of vacuum tosaid flask by the foot of an operator seated on said bench.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 further defined by said flask comprising a doublewalled cylinder having a removable liner connected to said probe andvacuum source, a source of liquid having heating means maintaining theliquid at a predetermined pressure, and means including a pumpconnecting said source of liquid to the chamber between the double wallsof said flask for circulating such liquid therethrough to mAintain aconstant temperature of said liner and contents.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1 further defined by said pivot arm having a first end extendingupwardly from a second end connected to linkage engaging the second endof said flexible line for drawing the line downward with the first endof the line wrapped about the legs of poultry and secured thereto by theenlarged end with such line under tension.